Manufacture of paper cups



J. V. WECKBAUGH.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION man MAY 17, 1919.

1 ,359,'7'Z2, Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

6 SHEETSSHEET I.

lNVfA/TOR ATTORNEY J. V. WECKBAUGH.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS. 7 APPLICATION FILED MAY I7, I919. 1,359,772.Patented Nov. 23,1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

was

J. V. WECKBAUGH' MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

' APPLICATION FILED MAY 7 1919- 1,359,772; Patented NOV. 23, 1920.

a SHEETS-SHEET 3.

FIG 7 {,FIGM

ATTORNEY J. V. WECKBAUGH.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, 1919.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

.1 4,359,772. Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

' .FIGB

ATTORNEY J. V. WECKBAUGH.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 11. 1919.

1 ,359,772, Patented Nov. 23, 1920.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5- ATTORNEY FIGLII J. V. WECKBAUGH.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17. 1919.

1,359,772. Patented Nov. 23,1920."

' 6 SHEET SHEET 6- I mm ll- (I 1055p) 1 WEJ/IEA 06/,

FIGJS 5 I Y UNETED STATES JOSEPH V. WECKBAUGH, 0F GREENWICH,CONNECTICUT.

MANUFACTURE OF PAPER CUPS.

Application filed May 17, 1919. Serial No. 297,762.

To a]! whom it may concern:

Be 1t known that I, JOSEPH V. \VEGK- BAL'GH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Greenwich, in the county of F airfield andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin the Manufacture of Paper Cups,

The invent-ion has for its object to provide a cup of this type. from asuitable paper blank which is folded in an extremely simple manner toprovide a liquid-tight'container having a large capacity for the amountof material employed. A further object of the invention consists inproviding a substantially rigid mouthpiece or lip therefor and the edgeof which shall not be sharp, as is the case usually with cups of thetypes heretofore produced. The cup,

moreover, lends itself readily to manufacture in a sanitary manner. Forexample, it may be produced from a continuous strip of material whichwill require no handling, the said material, also, remaining sealed orinclosed until the actual time of manufacture, and the cup being capableof being manufactured and dispensed entirely by mechanical means. Theinvention, also, has for its object the particular method of producingsuch cups as well as novel mechanism for carrying out the same.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate the inventionv Figures 1to 4 are diagrammatic views illustrating the different stages in themanufacture of a cup.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a completed cup.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a section taken on the line 77, Fi 6.

igs. 8 and 9 are sections taken, res ectively, on the lines 8-8 and 99,Fig.

Fig. 10is afragmentary detail in plan. Fig. 11 1s a section taken on theline 11-- 11, Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a section taken on the line 12- 12, Fig. 7.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented N0". 23, 1920.

Fig; 13 is a fragmentary detailof the opcrating and feeding mechanism.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 14-14, Fig. 7. f p 1Fig. 15 is a section taken on the line 15- 15, Fig. 7, with portionsbroken away.

Similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 5, which illustrate more particularly thedetails of the cup and the method ofmanufacture thereof. 20 designates ablank of a suit-able grade of paper of the required thickness andstiffness. This blank may be obtained in suitable lengths as from acontinuous strip 21, being out therefrom alongthe line 22 to provide aparallelogram of substantially equal sides and generally in the form ofa square. One of the corners, for example, the corner 23, of the blankis turned backwardlyalong a line 24 perpendicular to the diagonal 25 ofthe parallelogram. and the blank itself is then turned over about thesaid diagonal 25 as an axis or folded along same, whereupon thefull-length edges 26 and 27 are secured to each other in any suitablemanner, for example by folding same inwardly. The edges may, also. besecured to each other by means of a suitable adhesive, or may. be

folded over again, or, preferably. are se-,

cured by means of a suitable binding strip or metal tape 28 which isbound over same, Fig. 4. This completes the cup which is thus securelysealed approximately from bottom to top along the lengthwise edges i '26and 27, in manner indicated, providlng,

also, a suitable mouthpiece 29. The latter is reinforced and stiffenedby the backwardly turned corner 23, which serves, also, to hold the cupopen as well as toround off that of a roll, as hereinafter set forth,the inward the strip 21 of paper and simultanesaid diagonal.

gether with the coacting lengthwise edges 26 ously therewith a strip 28of binding material such as metal. The latter is preferably arrangedto'be fed beneath the paper 21 "along one edge thereof and at a slightlylesser rate than that of the strip in order to make use of the same feedrolls for both and to effect a saving of metal, as hereinafter setforth. lVhen the requisite quantity has been fed forward, both paper andmetal strip are out along the line 22 to provide the blank 20.Thereupon, or simultaneously with the feeding of the material, suitablemeans are-caused to deflect the corner 23,

preferably at an angle of forty-five degrees to the direction of travel.of the paper, after which the deflected portion is gripped and turnedunder, and suitable line impressions 30 also preferably made thereinalong radii struck from the diagonally opposite corner. Theseimpressions formed in the turned-over corner portion serve to assist thesubsequent turning operation and in the holding of the material inturned position, as well as to facilitate the finalshaping of the cup,thereby adding to the appearance thereof. The entire blank is thereuponturned over about the diagonal 25 asia'n axis or folded along The stripof metal28, to-

and 27, is then folded over and secured or bound together.

The mechanism for executing these varipus operations is shown assembledin Fig. 6,

and wherein 40' designates a suitable framing or housing for retainingthe members and mounted on 'abase 41, and the whole may be inca'sed in asuitable casing (not The said framing is open near the bottom to allowof the completed cup being discharged therefrom. Suitable operatingmechanism is provided, for example a crank 42 which projects from theside thereof, and is designed to be given one or more complete turns toeffect the manufacture and discharge of a cup. Generally, one completeturn will serve to effect the manufacture and discharge of the cup, thepaper and strip to provide a blank for the next cup being fed forward bythe return movement of the mechanism which is automatically accomplishedas hereinafter set forth, when the working turn is completed;

In the upper portion of the framing, there is removably mounted a roll45 of the paper and adjacently thereto a roll 46 of the binding stock,both being mounted upon a suitalong its one edge 26. Tofeed this stripforward, the same passes over a reduced portion of the lower feed roller52, Fig. 14, which, moreover, is provided with pins or teeth 54 toengage the perforations of the strip, the latter being held to theperiphery of the lower roller by a guide 55. Owing to -thefact that theperiphery of the roller for the strip portion is less than that of theportion of the roller for the paper, a lesser amount of metal will beadvanced relatively to the paper, as the rollers are rotated.

To effect the rotation of the said rollers 51 and 52, the shaft 56 ofthe upper feed roller carries at its outer end a sprocket 57 connectedby a chain 58 with a sprocket 59 at the outer end of acam shaft 60. Tothe latter is attached suitable operating means, for example the crankor handle 42.

However, the feeding action occurs only after one or more revolutions ofthe crank has been effected-that is to say, for example, on the returnmovement of the handle, which may be actuated automatically under theaction of a return spring 61 connected through cord 62 with sprocket 59on the cam shaft. To secure this action, the shafts 56 and are eachprovided with, a ball clutch or similar device 63 and 64 to connect sameto their respective sprockets, the clutches being arranged to act inopposite directions, whereby only one of the two shafts is active oroperable at a time, the other being idle during this period. 'The paperand metal are, therefore, fed only after the operations of producing acup have been completed, and are then brought In feeding the paperforward into the cup-forming mechanism hereinafter described, it issuitably guided by a lateral guide 65 along its edge 26, and its forwardcorner 23 is caused to abut a downwardly and backwardly directed foldingmember 66, Fig. 12, which causes the said corner portion of the paper tobe deflected as shown in Fig. -1 of the drawings. Thereupon, afterhaving been fed forward a predetermined length and deflected as shown,the paper is in position for the operation of forming the cup.

Beneath the paper thus located and with corner deflected, is pivotallymounted a turning member having at the, rear corner a series of pins 71designed to hold the paper. To cause the said pins to engage the paper,an arm 72 is pivoted to the frame and carries a projection 73 directedbeneath the side portion of the turning member to lift same under theaction 'of a cam 71, rotatable with the shaft 60, as the handle isrotated in its operating direction. The arm 72 is held in this positionuntil the operation of rotating the turning member begins, the cam 74there-for being designed ac cordingly. A suitable abutment member 75,pivoted to the frame,- is provided over the portion of the paper anddesigned to be engaged by the pins, for example being slitted for thispurpose. The same is held in locked or fixed position, for a sufiicientperiod to allow of the proper engagement, by a spring drawn arm 76engaging a projecting pin 77 thereof, said arm together with the member7 5 being designed to move out of the path of member 70 at the propertime to allow of the subsequent rotation of the said turning member.

The paper having been thus located and held to the member 70, thedeflected portion 23 is completely turned under about a line 21perpendicular to the diagonal passing through said corner portion 23,the same being accomplished through the action of the abutment 66 and afurther plate 80 forming gripping members or jaws which are hinged atthe forward portion of the turning member 70 and releasing as soon asthe paper is folded. The inner faces of the jaws 66 and 80 are providedwith suitable corrugations arranged as radii struclc from the diagonallyopposite corner of the paper; and as the gripping action takes place.the impressions 30 are formed therey in the paper, the same serving toset the paperin its turned position and to facilitate the subsequentturning operation as well as giving a finished appearance to' --of abell crank whose other arm 83 is inoved by a cam 8-1011 the cam shaft60. A spring 85 insures the return of the incline member, and a spring86 mounted within the plunger 81 returns the latter inwardly as .theincline member is returned to normal position, a further spring 87serving to open the jaw members. fold may occur substantially along theline 24, the paper at one side of the jaws is In order that the arrangedto be supported by the arm 73. At the opposite side of the line of fold24, an arm 89 pivoted to the frame is arranged to be swung under thepaper in supporting position as by means of an extension 90 of the arm72.

Immediately preceding the operation of turning, the one edge 26 of thepaper is caused to be securely gripped from below between a jawhereinafter described and the'guide A spring 96 operates to draw the jaw95 upwardly, the said jaw being pivoted to the frame and an extension 97thereof being released through the upward movement of an abutment or pin98 attached to the movable knife 99 of the cutting or shearing member.The latter is composed of the said movable knife 99 and a stationaryknife 100. To the movable knife 99 are secured return springs 101 toreturn the knife to normal position, the said springs 101 being morepowerful than spring 96 which tends to lift the jaw. Simultaneously withthe holding of the paper. the rear end of same is out along the line2:2, Fig. 1, by means of the shearing mechanism hereinbefore described,the movable knife 99 being operated from cams 102 on the cam shaft 60.

'The paper blank thus provided is held by the pins 71 to the turningmember 70 as well as along the edge 26 between the jaw 95 and guide 65..and is then ready to be turned over, and its lengthwise edges 26 and 27secured to each other to complete the cup.

During the forward feeding of the paper and the various operationshereinbefore described the strip'of metal 28 has also been advanced asset forth. passing beneath the paper and directed into guides 105formed.

in the top of the sealing or securing member composed of the two pivotedjaws 95 and 106. so that the edge 26 of the paper lies thereover.Thereupon, through the turning. of the blank by member 70, the said edge27 is brought over the edge 26. being turned about the blank diagonalwhich passes through the rearward end of the guide 65, the latterserving to hold the paper along edge 26 and directing the turning tocause edge 27 to coincide substantially with edge 26. The threeelementstwo paper edges and metal stripare.thus in position to besecurely crimped, folded or bound together, as in turning one over theother. In this connection, it is to be noted that the metal strip, whichhas been formed with perforations equally spaced along'its median line,has the edges of said perforations left rough and in position to contactwith the paper, therebyinsuring a maximum hold thereon; To bring theedge 27 into the position noted, the turning member 7 O is caused to berotated about pleted, a pivoted sealing blade 120, whose motion isgoverned by a slotted guide 121 secured to the frame, is arranged todescend through the action of an arm 122 controlled by an eccentric orcam roller 123 on the cam shaft 60. This blade is toothed along itsoperative edge, the teeth 124 thereof being designed to entercorresponding lateral recesses 125 in the jaws 95 and 106 to permit ofthe latter fully closing. As the blade 120 descends, its lower edgeengages the edge 27 of the turned-over blank as well as the edge 26thereof, holding same to the metal strip 28, whereupon the turningmember 7 O is returned to its home position through the action of thespring 115, the said member having been released by its cam. Furtherdownward movement of the blade results in the metal and edges 26 and 27being forced into the V-groove of the aw member to assume acorresponding shape, the said jaws, meanwhile, being held in fixed andnormal open position by an upwardly proj ecting-abutment member 126which engages a projection 127 of the said jaws. A cam 128 on the camshaft 60 then releases this abutment member 126, and the jaws aredepressed under further movement of the blade 120, closing through theaction due to the pivotal mounting of the jaws, provision also beingmade for a partial rotation there of. The coacting aw portions therebycompress and securely seal theedges 26 and 27,

- binding the metal 28 thereover substantially along its median linetoe-complete the cup. The toothed portion 124: has suflicient clearanceto prevent the cup being held to the blade in the sealing action, andpermits of the blades withdrawal therefrom, which is accomplishedthrough a spring 129. The upward and return movement of the jaw, throughthe action of the spring 96, tends,

moreover, to forcibly eject the cup which falls through the opening 130provided in the lower portion of the frame.

I claim:

1. In a machine of the character described: feed mechanism comprising apair said cam shaft in the opposite direction of rotation only. 7

2. In a machine of the "character described: a paper supply roll and ametal strip supply roll, feed mechanism therefor comprising two coactingfeed rollers, one of which has a portion of reduced diameter providedwith strip-engaging means.

3. In a machine of the character described: a paper supply roll and ametal strip supply roll, means to feed said paper and metal bindingstrip and comprising two coacting feed rollers, one of which has aportion of reduced diameter provided with means to engage the strip, andmeans to hold said strip to said reduced periphery.

4. In a machine of the character described: a paper supply roll and ametal strip supply roll, means to displace the metal strip relatively tothe paper, means to feed said paper and metal binding strip andcomprising two coacting feed rollers, one of which has a portion ofreduced diameter provided with means to engage the strip, and means tohold said strip to said reduced periphery.

5. In a machine of the character described: a paper supply roll and ametal strip supply roll, means to displace the metal strip relatively tothe paper, means to feed said paper and metal binding strip .andcomprising feed rollers, one of which has a portion of reduced diameterprovided with means to engage the strip, and means to guide the metalstrip beneath the paper and to the reduced portion of the roller.

6. In mechanism of the character described: a turning member affordingan abutment to deflect a corner of the advancing paper downwardly, meansto fold the said. corner, and means to secure the lengthwise edges ofthe paper to each other.

7. In mechanism of the character described; a turning member affordingan abutment to deflect a corner of the advancing paper downwardly at anangle of ninety degrees to the diagonal of the paper, means to fold thesaid corner, and means to secure the lengthwise edges of the paper toeach other. 7

8. In mechanism of the character described: means to feed a strip ofpaper, a turning member affording an abutment to reflect a corner of thepaper downwardly, means to fold the said corner and to provideimpressions thereon, and means to Se- -cure the lengthwise edges of thepaper to each other.

9. In mechanism .of the character described: means to feed a stripofpaper, a turning member affording an abutment to deflect the forwardcorner of the paper downwardly, means to fold the corner, means totemporarily support the paper substantially at the line of fold, andmeans to secure the lengthwise edges of the paper to each other.

10. In apparatus of the character described; means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper, and means thereon to holdthe paper thereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means torotate said turning member to register the lengtha wise edges of thepaper blank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges.

11. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member and suitable pins projecting upwardlytherefrom to engage the paper, means to cut the paper and metal strip,meansto rotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges ofthe paper blank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges.

12. In apparatus of the character 'described: means to feed a paperstrip and a metal binding strip, means to fold under the met a forwardcorner of said paper strip, a turning member and suitable pinsprojecting upwardly therefrom to engage the paper,

means to lift said turning member to cause the pins to engage the paper,means to cut the paper and metal strip, means to rotate said turningmember to register the lengthwise edges of the paper blank, and means tosecure the metal strip about said edges.

13. In apparatus of the. character described: means to feed a paperstrip and a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner ofsaid paper strip, a turning member and suitable pins projecting upwardlytherefrom to engage the paper, means to lift said turning member tocause the pins to engage the paper, means to cut the paper and metalstrip, a pivoted abutment designed to receive the pins, a memberpositioning same and controlled by the movement of the cutting member,means to rotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges ofthe paper blank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges-14. 'In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paperstrip and a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner ofsaid paper strip, a

turning member for the paper and means thereon to hold the paperthereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means to guide thepaper along one edge and means to cooperate therewith to hold the paperalong said edge,means torotate said turning member to register thelengthwise edges of the aper blank, and means to secure 25 strip aboutsaid edges,

' 15. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paperstrip and a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner ofsaid paper strip, a turning member for the paper and means thereon tohold the paper thereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means toguide the paper along one edge, a jaw member vertically movable andadapted to hold said paper along said edge, means to rotate said turningmember to register the lengthwise edges of the paper blank, and means tosecure the metal strip about said edges.

16. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, a guide forone edge of the paper, means tofold under a for- .ward corner of said paper strip, a turning member forthe paper, and means thereon to hold the paper thereto, means to cut thepaper and metal strip, a spring-drawn jaw member vertically movable tohold said paper against said guide and means controlled by the cuttingmeans to release the tatesaid turning member and comprising a segmentalgearattached thereto, a rack engaging said gear, a cam on said cam shaftto control said rack, and means to secure the metal strip about theedges of the paper.

18. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means thereon to holdthe paper thereto, means to out the paper and metal strip, means torotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges ofthe paperblank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges andcomprising jaw members, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend betweensaid jaw members to first form the paper and strip therein and thencause said jaws to close to secure the paper and metal together.

19. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a wise edges of the paper blank, and means to secure the metal stripabout said edges and comprising jaws, said jaws being provided withlateral guides for the strip of metal, a reciprocable blade adapted todescend be tween said jaws to first form the paper and strip therein andthen cause said jaws to close to secure the paper and metal together.

20. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means thereon to holdthe paper thereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means torotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges of the paperblank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges andcomprising jaws, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend between saidjaws, said jaws being recessed to accommodate the teeth of the. blade topermit closing of the jaws around the latter and the said blade firstforming the paper and strip therein and then causing said jaws to closeto secure the paper and metal together.

21. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, a cam shift operating in conjunctiontherewith, means to fold under a forward corner of said paper strip,

a turning member for the paper and means thereon to hold the paperthereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means to rotate saidturning member to register the lengthwise edges of the paper blank, andmeans to secure the metal strip about said edges and comprising jaws, areciprocable blade adapted to descend between said jaws to first formthe paper and strip therein and then cause said jawsv to close to securethe paper and metal together, means to engage said blade to depresssame, and a cam on said cam shaft to control said means.

.22. In apparatus of the character described:v means to feed a paperstrip and a metal binding strip, a cam shaft operating in conjunctiontherewith, means to fold under a forward corner of said paper strip, aturning member for the paper and means thereon to hold the paperthereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means to rotate saidturning member to register the lengthwise edges of the paper blank, andmeans to secure the metal strip about said edges and comprising jaws, areciprocable blade adapted to descend between said jaws to first formthe paper and strip therein and then cause said jaws to close to securethe paper and metal together, means to engage said blade to depresssame, a cam on said cam shaft to control said means, and

guiding means for said blade. 23. In apparatus of the characterdescribed: means to feed a paper strip and a the paper and metal strip,means to rotate metal binding strip, a cam shaft operating inconjunction therewith, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means thereon'to holdthe paper thereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip, means torotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges of the paperblank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges andcomprising jaws, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend between saidjaws to first form the paper and strip therein and then cause said jawsto close to secure the paper and metal together, means to engage saidblade to depress same, a cam on said cam shaft to control said means,guiding. means for saidv blade, and resilient means to return saidblade.

24. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turn-. ing member for the paper and means thereon to holdthe paper thereto, means to cut 9 said turning member to register thelengthwise edges of the aper blank, means to secure the metal stripabout said edges, and resilient means to return the turning member.

25. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means there- 10.

on to hold the paper thereto, means to cut the paper and metal strip,means to rotate said turning member to register the lengthwise edges ofthe paper blank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edgesand 108 comprising jaws, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend betweensaid jaws, and abut-- ment meansto temporarily hold said jaws againstdescent during the downward movement of the blade. I 11.

26. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means there- 11. on tohold the paper thereto, means to cut a the paper and metal strip, meansto rotate said turning member to register the length-' wise edges of thepaper blank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges and1!. comprising jaws, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend betweensaid jaws, abutment means to temporarily hold said jaws against descentduring the downward movement of the blade, and a cam to control theabutment.

27. In apparatus of the character described: means to feed a paper'stripand a metal binding strip, means to fold under a forward corner of saidpaper strip, a turning member for the paper and means there- 0 on tohold the paper thereto, means to out the paper and metal strip, means torotate said turning member to'register the lengthwise ed es of the paperblank, and means to secure the metal strip about said edges andcomprising jaws, a reciprocable blade adapted to descend between saidjaws, to first form the paper and strip therein and then cause said jawsto close to secure the paper and metal together, and means con- 10trolled by the cutting member to open the aws. J Signed at New York, inthe county of New York and State of New York, this 16th day of May, A.D. 1919.

JOSEPH V. WECKBAUGH,

